You may have heard that the TSA limit for airplane carry-on liquids is 100 ml or 3.4 oz. But what does 100 ml actually look like? This post explains the real-world size of 100 ml bottles for air travel toiletries.
How Big is 100 ml?
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- 100 ml = 3.4 fluid ounces
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- 100 ml is about 1/3 of a standard 12 oz soda can
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- 100 ml is 42.5% of a US measuring cup (250 ml)
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- 100 ml is 2 mini 50 ml liquor bottles
So 100 ml is quite small! It’s not even half a cup.
What Does 100 ml Look Like For Common Toiletries?
Here are some examples to visualize how far 100 ml goes for different products:
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- Toothpaste: 100 ml toothpaste should last 1 month with pea-sized amounts.
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- Shampoo: 100 ml shampoo gives 9-10 washes for shoulder length hair. You may need more for long hair trips.
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- Sunscreen: You need ~30 ml to cover your body. A 100 ml bottle gives 3 full applications. Consider solid sunscreen sticks for longer trips.
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- Body wash: You might use 30 ml per shower. A 100 ml bottle won’t last long. Pack bar soap instead.
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- Eye cream: Use just 1 ml per application. 100 ml could last over 3 months! Go smaller.
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- Mouthwash: 20 ml per use means a 100 ml bottle gives only 5 rinses. Try mini Listerine strips instead.
Tips for Packing Carry-On Toiletries
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- Don’t default to 100 ml bottles. Go smaller for items you use less of.
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- Buy empty travel bottles and decant only what you need from big bottles. Saves money too!
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- A quart ziplock bag fits ~7-8 max sized bottles. Plan accordingly.
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- Many makeup and cosmetic products count as liquids too. Only pack what you really require.
Hope this gives you a better sense of how much 100 ml is and how to best use your quart bag space! Safe travels.
